now plying on the Forth and Clyde Canal, 925 
Weight of iron employed 
Tons. Cwt. Qrs. 
Keel, stem and stern-posts, - - 1 18 0 
Ribs, rivets, &c. - -- ..--4 00 
Plates for the body, - -- -- 5 00 
Ounwale-plates, - -- -- -1 20 
Rudder, bilge-plates, &c., - - - 0 11 5 
■on a small scide 
on a larger scale. 
12 11 5 at 54 per cwt 
or litde more than twelve and a half tons, which is rather less 
than that of a wooden vessel of the same external, and smaller 
internal dimensions. 
The accompanying sketches shew the modes of joining and 
fastening so distinctly, that I need not trouble you with any 
detail. 
Plate VII. Fig» 1. is a broadside view, 
2. a bird’s-eye view of half 
the inside, (termed a 
half breadth plan,) 
5. a midship section, 
4 part of the inside, (look-f 
ing aft,) - - i 
5. Do. do. forward, - J 
6. a small part of a rib and plates, (much 
enlarged.) 
This mode of joining the plates edge to edge without over- 
lapping, and having the rivet-holes counter sunk on the outside, 
gives a perfectly smooth surface, which, when painted, cannot 
be distinguished from that of wood plank. 
The sketches are taken from the original plan for a boat of 
11 feet beam ; in the execution it was enlarged to 15 feet. 
An unforeseen advantage has been experienced in the use of 
this vessel, the cause of which is not very apparent. When 
any of the other boats have been laid alongside of the canal 
bank to take in or discharge passengers, they continue, on being 
again put in motion, to rub on the bank, until they acquire 
* The iron was of the kind called Scraj),, and was rolled and forged at the Monk- 
land Steel iCompany’s Works. 
